Chapter 3

“What’ch reading?”

Squall jumped, nearly falling off his desk chair. He looked behind him, seeing Irvine. Irvine was chuckling at him, looking mighty amused.

“Don’t sneak up on me like that.” Squall scolded.

Irvine pouted, “aww, Squall’s mad at me.”

Squall rolled his eyes, “act your age.”

Irvine just chucked.

“So what are you reading?” Irvine asked again, trying to get a peek at the paper Squall had been pouring over moments before.

Squall’s face colored. “Nothing,” he was quick to say.

“That doesn’t look like a nothing face.”

“Whatever.” Squall mumbled.

By now, Irvine was used to these ‘whatever’s.’ It was Squall’s way of saying, he was done talking, leave him alone.

Irvine pouted again, but turned away from Squall and walked away.

---

“Seifer, don’t bite my head off, please…” Zell said.

Seifer was glaring at Zell, wondering why the younger blond was bugging him. He’d been trying to get some peace and quiet. For once in his life, he didn’t feel like pushing anyone’s buttons. He felt drained; that life no longer interested him.

“I-I was just wanting to ask you something.” Zell whispered, his face falling. He never liked it when Seifer showed how much he disliked him.

“What?” Seifer asked. His voice was horse, as if he hadn’t really used it recently.

“Umm, well,” Zell found himself blushing, “I guess I was worried about you,” Zell murmured. “I wanted to know if you were okay? You seem different.”

Zell turned away from Seifer. He didn’t expect much. Seifer would now say something rude and smirk, or just ignore him completely.

“I-I…” Seifer stammered, perplexed by Zell’s concern. Even after all the time of his teasing and tormenting, Zell was still concerned for him.

Zell looked back at Seifer in surprise, hearing Seifer stumble over his words. That was very un-Seifer like.

“Fine,” Seifer said, his cheeks a shade of maroon.

Zell didn’t buy that; Seifer looked far from fine. His eyes looked so sad and he still looked like he’d been crying.

“I know you don’t like me much, Seifer. I feel like you even hate me, what with how you treat me, but I do like you…” Zell paused, “not like that,” he stammered. “And even though you hate me, I’ve known you for years and I can tell that you’re not okay.”

Zell looked down. “I don’t know why, but I don’t like to see you this way.”

Seifer blinked, his eyes going wide when Zell said he liked him. He blushed, looking away from the smaller blond. Even though Zell said that he didn’t like him ‘that way’ Seifer was pleased that he liked him at all.

“Zell, despite how I act or treat you, I don’t hate you….” Seifer didn’t know why he was talking with Zell this way; as if he was a completely different person.

Zell looked up, “you don’t?” Zell tilted his head to the side, “but when we were kids you always poked and pinched me… and teased me. Even now as teenagers, you still are hateful toward me.”

Seifer looked at Zell; he wondered if he really hurt him that much. Seifer felt bad; he did treat Zell bad, and Seifer wouldn’t admit it, but he only did it so Zell would pay attention to him; so Zell would know he was alive… It was a wrong way to show your feelings, but it was all Seifer knew.

‘Maybe I can change.’ Seifer thought, ‘I’ll give it a try, starting with a sorry.’

Seifer took a deep breath, “yea, I’m sorry.” he said, sincerely.

Zell blinked, gasping; he was so surprised to hear that Seifer really did mean what he was saying.

“You are?” he asked, just to make sure.

“Yes. I’m such a jackass.”

Zell smiled, “well, then, I forgive you.”

“Good.”

“Now that we’ve put the past behind us, will you tell me what’s wrong?” Zell asked. “Why did you have to change dorms?”

‘Can I really tell him? We’ve sorta made up, but what will happen to us if I tell Zell the truth?’ Seifer fretted.

Seifer sighed, “my roommates found something out about me and they didn’t like what it was, so they… well ganged up on me. Yes, the great Seifer Almasy was the bullied for once.” Seifer sighed again.

“But what could they learn that would be bad enough that they felt the need to beat you up?”

“Thatumge.” Seifer mumbled.

“Huh?” Zell stepped closer to Seifer, looking up at him.

“That. I’m. Gay.” Seifer said, emphasizing each word.

Seifer looked away from Zell, backing away from him, “you gonna turn on me too?” he asked in a whisper.

“As if.” Zell said, “I want us to be friends, ya know. That’s all I ever wanted.” Zell blushed. “I don’t care if you like guys, girls or even chocobos… okay, I might be a little weirded out if you like chocobos.”

Seifer smiled at Zell, then started to laugh. He felt happier then he had in a long while. “So not my type.”

Zell laughed too, “that’s good to hear.”

---

Selphie ran into the room she shared with Ellone, Quistis and Lulu, waving a tape recorder. Ellone and Quistis were sitting in the living room and Lulu was in the library.

Ellone and Quistis looked up, “what’s up, Selphie?” Quistis asked.

“You know that tape recorder I put in Zell’s room? Well it sure paid off.” Selphie giggled, turning the tape on.

“That. I’m. Gay.” The girls heard Seifer say, a hint of fear in his voice

“You gonna turn on me too?” Seifer was heard asking, his voice almost shaking.

“As if. (At hearing those words, all three girls giggled; it was so sweet.) I want us to be friends, ya know. That’s all I ever wanted. I don’t care if you like guys, girls or even chocobos… okay, I might be a little weirded out if you like chocobos.” The girls started to laugh; Zell was so darling, and funny.

When Seifer started to laugh, sounding very happy, the girls grinned. “So not my type.” Seifer was heard saying, still laughing.

Zell‘s laughter soon joined in. “That’s good to hear.”

“Now tell me that is not a light shounen ai moment?” Selphie asked, a maniac gleam in her eyes.

Quistis and Ellone grinned, “sure sounds like one,” the blond said.

“Yeah,” Ellone agreed.

---

Squall blushed, putting away his second letter from his admirer.

‘Who is it?’ he asked himself.

A/N Please Review!